summary
After the death of her three sisters, thirteen-year-old Hattie and her family plan for a fresh start. They sell their farm in Missouri and journey along the Oregon Trail toward Oregon City. At first the adventure is exciting, but as the days, weeks, and months pass, Hattie realizes what a dangerous trip it is. As they cross the prairies, news of the fate of the Donner party reaches them, and death, disease, weather, and the terrain take a terrible toll on their traveling party. The Campbells lose neighbors and friends until they almost cannot bear to continue. Yet Hattie and her family must persevere or risk the same misfortune. Hattie`s diary chronicles the hardships of such a harrowing journey, but also captures the friendships and celebrations of life that keep hope alive.
reviews
- In the spring of 1847, thirteen-year-old Hattie Campbell and her family leave their home in Missouri to travel west in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail. Hattie is sad to leave her home and her best friend, as well as the graves of her little sisters who died.
In her diary, Hattie writes of all the hardships her family and others in their wagon train experience. The pioneers face sickness, dangerous river crossings. Many people do not survive. But despite all the sadness, there is happiness too, as Hattie becomes friends with another girl on the wagon train and begins to fall in love with her new friend's brother.
I first read this book many years ago, when it was first published. I was eleven years old then and absolutely loved it and reread it quite a few times. This book was one of my childhood favorites so I am glad it is back in print again. It's still one of my favorites from the Dear America series and I recommend it to all fans of the series as well as to readers who love historical fiction about pioneers in the old west.
I really did enjoy this little children's book
- Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory. I chose it because on a recent vacation at the Westin Hotel in Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, I noticed the Coterie Theatre was putting on the play based on this book. After reading a rather difficult, slow-moving book, I wanted to read something where the pages turned quickly. I thought a children's book was just the ticket. And it was!
This was the story of Hattie Campbell who with her parents and two little brothers went with a wagon train from their home in Boonville, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon traveling on the Oregon Trail in 1847. Actually I learned many things in this simple little book. There was a difference traveling on the Oregon Trail in the early part of the ninteenth century as opposed to the middle of the century. It took six months in the former as opposed to three months in the latter. Of course, everyone was worried about the Indians. But in the early part of the century there was very little difficulty with the native Americans. Problems did not arise until the White Man took their land in the middle of the century.
I did so enjoy this little book. I need to remember these Dear America books. I do feel something can be learned from every book we read. The play based on this book at the Coterie in Kansas City is playing through September 30, 2012. Tickets are still available.